Jorge

Jorge always knew he wanted to work in social services, so when he learned about Project Renewal’s Next Step Internship Program (NSIP), he jumped at the chance to kick start his dream career. After completing his internship at Ana’s Place Men’s Shelter and graduating from the program, his hard work and dedication earned him a full-time role.

Promoted several times during his tenure, from Residential Aide to Case Manager to Criminal Justice Liaison and then to Director of Social Services, Jorge says Ana’s Place is where he grew up professionally. Currently, he serves as the Program Director of the Parole Support Treatment Program (PSTP), where he oversees supportive housing and case management services for individuals transitioning out of state prison.

In January 2023, Jorge was accepted into the graduate program at Touro College where he is pursuing a master’s degree in social work with an expected graduation date of summer of 2025. We sat down with him to talk about his experience building a career at Project Renewal for the past five years.

Q: What was your biggest learning from your time in NSIP?

A: I was assigned to an internship at Ana’s Place, which is a men’s shelter. It was my first time being exposed to working with individuals with mental illness and substance use histories. Being honest, I was scared. But during NSIP, they give you training. They educate you and they prepare you for this work. And that was the great thing!

I had to work on my cultural competency and sometimes put my values and my perception on the side, and be more client centered, you know? Forget about my own prejudice or whatever and say “No, I’m working here to provide a service, to assist this individual.” Of course, you learn about the individual’s background, and you learn what’s going on, why the person ended up in this situation. And so, every day you make use of empathy to understand the individual. So it’s not about me, it was about the clients.

Q: Why did you decide to go back to school to get your master’s in social work?

A: Actually, I was inspired by one of my clients. I was scared to go back to school because I had a hard time in college. But that client told me, “Jorge, remember, you always empower me and encourage me to do well. The past is the past. Just move forward.” I said, you’re right, so let me apply. And that’s what I did.

When I was doing the criminal justice liaison job at Ana’s Place, I saw all the barriers formerly incarcerated individuals face. It is very, very hard for them to integrate back in society. Because the system says, ‘We provide support,’ but the practice is different. So, give you an example, the system approves housing vouchers for those individuals even though there are no apartments that comply with the housing restrictions placed on them. So why are you giving hope to the person and there is nothing available? So I said, let me go back to school to get myself prepared to better assist those individuals.

Q: You’ve had quite the career journey.  Who or what helped you along the way?

A: I always say that I’m a lucky guy, because I believe in God, and I believe that God always puts angels in my life. I’m lucky to work with great leadership and great mentors. For example, Jenniene Cumberbatch, who is my current supervisor at PSTP. She was my director at Ana’s Place as well. She’s been guiding me and providing me with support in everything I need to know. And also my mentor Shannon Gonzalez, the VP of Programs. Oh my God, I don’t have the words to describe her as a human, as a mentor. But I’m very, very lucky to have those two people.

Of course, the person who first gave me the opportunity at Ana’s Place was Roxanne Steele. So I remember in that interview, I told her, “Give me the chance, and I will make you proud.” When I got this position, she called me and she said, ‘I didn’t want to send you an email. I wanted to call you personally and say congratulations.”

Q: This is one that I love to ask folks. What makes you most proud of your work at Project Renewal?

A: Being able to work at Project Renewal and with our clients is making me more human. Before, I used to complain a lot about life, about this, about that. But now I’m grateful even for the little I have. It makes me love my family more, even though they’re not perfect. It’s made me more close to people. It’s made me stop judging people, or judging the book by the cover, and helped me to understand that everybody has a story.

Q: That’s beautiful. Do you have any last thoughts? Is there anything you want to say to someone who may be thinking about enrolling in one of Project Renewal’s job training programs?

A: Project Renewal has been a great opportunity in my life, not just professionally, but also personally. I’ve been making use of all the things that I’ve been learning during this time, all the trainings that are available. And now I’m about to finish my master’s. I’ve been doing great.

I always use myself as an example. I say, listen, I did the program. So if the program worked for me, of course it will work for you. So it’s dependent on how far you want to go. NSIP helps you get your foot in the door and it’s up to you what you do with that opportunity.